Nigeria’s Telecom Industry Still 85% Untapped — Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem

Despite over two decades of liberalisation and rapid expansion, Nigeria’s telecommunications industry remains 85 percent untapped, according to Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, former President of the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and Chairman of Teledom Group.

Dr. Ekuwem, who spoke recently on “The Future of Digital Connectivity in Nigeria,” described the nation’s telecom industry as “a goldmine waiting to be fully exploited.”

He noted that while Nigeria has made significant progress in mobile telephony, broadband penetration, and digital service delivery, the real potential of the sector lies in deepening infrastructure, driving innovation, and expanding access to rural and underserved communities.

“The telecom industry in Nigeria is still 85 percent untapped. The potential is humongous,” Dr. Ekuwem declared. “What we’ve seen so far is only scratching the surface. There are vast opportunities in broadband, fibre deployment, data centres, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), fintech integration, and e-governance that are yet to be fully realised.”

The global ICT policy expert emphasised that true economic transformation will depend on how Nigeria leverages technology to improve productivity, education, healthcare, and governance efficiency.

According to him, Nigeria’s youthful population and its growing appetite for digital services place the country in a prime position to lead Africa’s digital economy — if the right policies, investments, and collaborations are sustained.

“We have the market, we have the people, and we have the creativity,” he said. “What we need now is deliberate investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building, and policy consistency.”

Dr. Ekuwem, who also served as President of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), called on the Federal Government, industry regulators, and private sector operators to prioritise last-mile connectivity, indigenous innovation, and digital inclusion to unlock the sector’s full value chain.

He also underscored the importance of local content development, urging Nigeria to move from being a consumer of imported technology to a producer of digital solutions capable of serving both domestic and regional markets.

Concluding, Dr. Ekuwem said that with the right policy support, investments, and innovation, the telecom sector could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP, create millions of jobs, and establish the nation as a continental technology hub.

“If we commit to this journey, the next decade will define Nigeria’s place in the global digital order,” he stated.